Solomon j



(No Model.)

S. J. JACOBS. MEANS FOR ATTAGHING AND DETAOHING ELEOTRIO LAMP BULBS. No.431,721.

Patented July 8, 1890.

111: News PETERS co., mufcrumo msmnarcu, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLOMON J. JACOBS,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR ATTACHING AND DETACHING ELECTRIC-LAMP BULBS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,721, dated July 8,1890.

Application filed February 24, 1890. fierial No. 341,421. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SOLOMON J. JACOBS, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Meansfor Attaching and Detaching Electric-Lamp Bulbs, of which the followingis a specification.

My improvement is designed to effect the attachment and detachment ofthe bulbs of incandescent electric lamps to and from their sockets.

I will describe in detail a tool embodying my improvement, and thenpoint out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a toolembodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan or top View of the same. Fig.3 is a detail view showing certain means for operating the tool. Fig. 4is a view showing a slight modification.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A designates a base-piece, which may be made of metal, and is shown ascircular in shape. In the example of my improvement shown in Fig. 1 thisbase-piece is provided upon one side with a socket a. A set-screw aextends through the wall of said socket into the interior thereof. Uponthe upper side of the base-piece A are pivoted a number of fingers B.These fingers are shown as arcshaped in their general outline, and whenlooked at in plan, as in Fig. 2, form radii of a circle of which thecenter of the base-piece A is the axis. They extend in the same generaldirection. The outer end portions of the fingers B extend inwardlytoward each other; but near their ends they are shown asoutwardly-fiaring. When the fingers occupy the position shown moreclearly in Fig. 1, the space inclosed by them will be substantially thatof an ordinary incandescent-lamp bulb. Surrounding the fingers B, andabout midway in their heights, is a spring O, here shown as a metalliccoil-spring, but which may be an elastic bandas, for instance, ofindia-rubber. This spring is secured by means of loops 0 upon thefingers, so as to be maintained in position thereon.

The inner surfaces of the fingers B are faced with any suitablefrictional material-such, for instance, as india-rubber or leather D. I

prefer that this material be corrugated or provided with nodules in anysuitable manner, as shown. In using the tool the outer ends ofthefingers are pressed against the enlarged end of the lamp-bulb, and bycontinued pressure the fingers will be forced over the bulb, the springC yielding to admit of this. WVhen forced fully over the bulb, thecontraction of the spring 0 will cause the fingers to grip the bulb, andthe frictional material thereon will offer such resistance to therotation of the fingers about the bulb that when the tool is rotated thebulb will rotate with it, and may thus be readily detached from itssocket or attached thereto, according to the direction in which the toolis rotated. Where the bulbs hang vertically, or substantially so, Iwill, in the example of my improvement shown in Fig. 1, insert astraight handle within the socket a, and clamp it there by means of thescrew a. By this means the tool may be readily rotated.

In Fig. 4 I have shown that the handle E may be made integral with thebase-piece A and the socket on omitted.

In Fig. 3 I have shown means for operating the tool where the lampsextend horizontally, or approximately so. In such case I employ a hollowsleeve F, from the upper end portion of which extends a bracket f. Journaled in this bracket is a bevel gear-wheel f the shaft f of whichextends for a distance beyond the bracket f. The bevel gear-wheel fmeshes with another gear-wheel f mounted upon one end of a spindle fwhich extends loosely through the sleeve F. The lower end portion of thespindle f beyond the sleeve F is provided with ahandle E of greaterdiameter than the sleeve F. Between the end of the sleeve F and thehandle E, I have shown a washer f, and between the other end of thesleeve F and the gear-wheel f another washer The shaft f? of thegear-wheel f is to be secured in the socket a of the tool. By thengrasping the sleeve F with one hand androtating the handle E with theother it will be quite clear that rotary motion will be imparted to thetool. The spindle f may also be extended, as shown, in order that thetool may be used upon bulbs which hang vertically.

Upon the fingers B, I have shown stops 9,

which will prevent a too extended inward swinging of the said fingers.The stops might, however, be arranged upon the base A.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,isv 1. The herein-described attaching and detaching device, consistingof a handle, a basepiece at the upper end of the handle, curvedgrasping-fingers pivoted at their lower ends to the base-piece andflaring outwardly at their upper ends, the said fingers being providedwith facing-pieces of frictional material upon their inner sides, and aspring uniting said fingers and tending to draw them toward one another,substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described attaching and decured to said rotary shaft andspindle, substantially as set forth.

SOLOMON J. JACOBS.

WVitnesses: V

FREDK. HAYNES, O. E. LUNDGREN.

